Rano Air has announced the temporary suspension of select flight routes, citing a 300 percent increase in the cost of Jet A1 aviation fuel.
While the airline did not state affected routes, it noted that the rise in operational costs has made sustaining specific routes “commercially unsustainable.”
The airline operates a fleet of Embraer 145 aircraft out of its Abuja base.
This development comes just weeks after the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) warned of a potential industry-wide shutdown due to fuel prices skyrocketing from ₦900 to nearly ₦3,000 per litre following global geopolitical tensions.
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For domestic carriers like Rano Air, fuel now accounts for over 50 percent of total operating expenses. Despite recent government interventions—including a 30 percent discount on aviation-related debts and the Dangote Refinery’s attempt to cap prices at N1,820 per litre—volatility remains high.
Rano Air’s decision highlights a growing trend of ‘capacity trimming,’ where airlines prioritize financial survival over network connectivity.
The management of Rano Air in a statement on Friday expressed regret over the disruptions, particularly for passengers on its key routes which typically include Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, and Maiduguri.
“This decision was made after careful consideration and in the interest of maintaining safe, reliable, and sustainable operations,” the statement read.
The airline has activated customer support channels to handle refunds and rescheduling, promising to resume operations as soon as the market becomes “operationally viable.”
